Portable bathing chair for invalids

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a collapsible portable bathing chair for invalids which includes a water tank, with a conduit for feeding water to a sitz bath and foot washing portions of the device. A shower rod is provided for supporting a faucet attached shower head and a drain tank is provided for the discharge of the washing water which collects in the foot rest portion of the device.

United States Patent 1191 McClarrin 1 Sept. 3, 1974 PORTABLE BATHINGCHAIR FOR 2,762,057 9/1956 R661 4/6 INVALIDS 3,045,252 7/1962 Sorrells4/167 3,169,253 2/1965 Segar 4/145 Inventor: Edna McClarrin, 12 1 NW.3,616,467 11/1971 Drain 4/146 30th Ten, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 3,662,4095/1972 Johansson 4/145 33311 3,711,872 1/1973 Jarosinski 4/146 [22]Filed 1973 Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis [21] Appl. No.: 320,979

, [57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl 4/145, 4/148, 4/173 The Present invention isdirected to a collapsible v 51 1m. (:1 A47k 3/022 table bathing chairfor invalids which includes a water 5 Field f 4 145 1 7 143, 5 L, tank,with a conduit for feeding water to a sitz bath 4/134, 185 S, 6 and footwashing portions of the device. A shower rod is provided for supportinga faucet attached shower 5 References Cited head and a drain tank isprovided for the discharge of UNITED STATES PATENTS the washing waterwhich collects in the foot rest portion of the device. 2,641,770 6/1953Chapln 4/146 2,682,058 6/1954 Wolfe 4/166 X 4 Claims, 7 Drawing FiguresPATENTEU FIG. 3.

FIG.

l PORTABLE BATHING CHAIR FOR INVALIDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Fieldof the Invention An invalids portable chair for washing the invalidwithout necessitating the invalid being lifted into a bathtub.

Summary of the Invention A folding chair supported on wheels is providedwith a source of water and a tank for collecting the used water andfurther is provided with a sitz bath and a foot bath all of which can bedrained into the storage tank for the used water. The seat has anopening to permit the attachment of a bed pan thereto. A shield isadapted to be supported on the shower rod to cover the invalid whilebathing.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a portable invalidschair having means for bathing the invalid attached thereto.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevation illustrating the chair in folded condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings indetail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures the reference numeral 10 indicates generally aportable invalids chair constructed in accordance with the invention.

The invalids chair 10 includes a pair of spaced parallel base framemembers 11 having caster wheels 12 secured to the forward ends thereof.An upright frame member 13 is secured to the rear end of each of thebase frame members 11 and has a wheel 14 journaled on the lower endthereof. A rearwardly extending handle 15 is integrally formed on theupper end of each of the upright frame members 13 to provide a means ofmoving the chair 10 from place to place. An L-shaped frame member 16 issecured to each of the horizontal frame members 11 and the upright framemembers 13 to have portions generally parallel to the horizontal framemember 11 and the upright frame member 13. Spaced apart horizontal framemembers 17, 18 extend between the L-shaped frame member 16 and the upright frame member 13 as can be clearly seen in FIG. 1.

A tray 19 is secured to the lower end of the frame members 13 at itsrear end and is supported on links 20 extending downwardly from theframe members 11 at its forward end. The tray 19 is longitudinallydivided and hinged together by a longitudinal hinge 21. A tray 22identical to the tray 19 is supported on the forward ends of thelongitudinal frame members 11 and is longitudinally hinged at 23 as canbe seen in FIG. 3. A tray 24 is secured to the horizontal frame members17 and is longitudinally hinged at 25.

A pair of folding braces 26, 27 arranged in spaced parallel relation andconnected at their opposite ends to the upright frame members 13. Afolding frame member 28 extends between and is connected to the L-shapedframe members 16 spaced above the base frame members 11.

A seat frame 29 is secured to the frame members 16 and the upright framemembers 13 to support a flexible seat and back 30 positioned thereon. Aclosed used water tank 42 formed of flexible material is supported onthe tray 19 and is connected to the foot washer tank 31 by a dischargeconduit 33.

A discharge pipe 34 extends from an opening 35 in the bottom of theflexible seat and back panel 30 to a point overlying the foot bath tank31 so that water draining therethrough will flow into the foot bath tank31 and from there into the tank 32. An opening 36 is provided in theflexible seat and back 30 to overlie a bed pan or other containersupported on the tray 24 to permit the portable chair 10 to be used as atoilet stool. A seat belt 37 is secured to the frame 29 to secure thepatient in the chair 10.

A folding shower rod 38 is secured to the frame 29 to support aconventional portable shower head and a shield for the patient in thechair 10.

A water supply tank 39 is secured to the rear of the frame 29 to supplywater through a flexible conduit 40 to the sitz bath slit 41 in theflexible back and seat 30 as required. A drain hose 42 is secured to thetank 32 and is supported in a bracket 43 so as to prevent the tank 32from draining normally. When the tank 32 becomes full the drain hole 42is unhooked from its bracket 43 and is lead to an outlet below the levelof the tank 32 so as to drain the tank 32.

A filler cap 44 is provided in the tank 39 to permit the tank 39 to befilled with water as required. The portable chair 10 may be folded alongits longitudinal center line by folding each of the transverse frame members and trays to the position as illustrated in FIG. 7.

A brake member 45 is pivotally mounted to each of the upright framemembers 13 and has a hand grip 46 positioned adjacent the frame 29 sothat the occupant of the chair can apply the brace to the rear wheels 14to prevent the chair 10 from moving or to slow it down when moving toofast.

The shower hose may also be used to fill the tank 39 which may then beavailable during water shortages. The shower hose may also be equippedwith a tempera ture control valve to make sure the patient is not bathedwith water either too hot or too cold.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention itshould be understood that numerous structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A folding portable invalids bathing chair comprising apair of spacedapart lower parallel horizontal base frame members having caster wheelssecured to the forward ends thereof, a pair of upright frame memberssecured to the rear ends of the horizontal spaced apart frame members, awheel joumaled on the lower end of each of the upright frame members, arearwardly extending handle secured adjacent the upper end of each ofthe upright frame members to provide wheel chair propelling means formoving the chair from place to place, a pair of inverted L"-shaped framemembers having their lower ends secured to the forward ends of thehorizontal frame members and having their rear ends secured to theupright frame members and having arm rest portions generally parallel tothe horizontal frame members, vertically spaced front and rear foldingbrace members extending transversely in spaced apart parallel relationand connected at their outer ends to vertically spaced portions of theupright frame members at the rear of the chair and to vertically spacedportions of the L"-shaped frame members at the front of the chair,flexible seat and back members secured to laterally spaced horizontaland vertical support members, a water supply tank secured to the backand adjacent the upper portion of the flexible back member to supplywater for washing a person seated in said chair, a closed used watertank associated with the lower frame members, water supply lines fromthe water supply tank and spray means to wash various portions of theperson seated in the chair, water collecting means to direct used washwater to the used water tank, and a controllable outlet from the usedwater tank.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein a folding shower curtain rodis secured to the vertical support member associated with the flexibleback support, and a shower head within the area of the folding showercurtain rod, and connecting means to supply water thereto from the watersupply tank.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein a tray supported sitz bathis associated with the seat member, and water spray and water disposalmeans are interposed between water storage and water discharge means.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein a foot bath tank is providedand controllable water supply and water discharge means are provided tosupply water to and to discharge water from the foot bath tank.

1. A folding portable invalid''s bathing chair comprising a pair ofspaced apart lower parallel horizontal base frame members having casterwheels secured to the forward ends thereof, a pair of upright framemembers secured to the rear ends of the horizontal spaced apart framemembers, a wheel journaled on the lower end of each of the upright framemembers, a rearwardly extending handle secured adjacent the upper end ofeach of the upright frame members to provide wheel chair propellingmeans for moving the chair from place to place, a pair of inverted''''L''''shaped frame members having their lower ends secured to theforward ends of the horizontal frame members and having their rear endssecured to the upright frame members and having arm rest portionsgenerally parallel to the horizontal frame members, vertically spacedfront and rear folding brace members extending transversely in spacedapart parallel relation and connected at their outer ends to verticallyspaced portions of the upright frame members at the rear of the chairand to vertically spaced portions of the ''''L''''-shaped frame membersat the Front of the chair, flexible seat and back members secured tolaterally spaced horizontal and vertical support members, a water supplytank secured to the back and adjacent the upper portion of the flexibleback member to supply water for washing a person seated in said chair, aclosed used water tank associated with the lower frame members, watersupply lines from the water supply tank and spray means to wash variousportions of the person seated in the chair, water collecting means todirect used wash water to the used water tank, and a controllable outletfrom the used water tank.
 2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein afolding shower curtain rod is secured to the vertical support memberassociated with the flexible back support, and a shower head within thearea of the folding shower curtain rod, and connecting means to supplywater thereto from the water supply tank.
 3. The invention defined inclaim 2 wherein a tray supported sitz bath is associated with the seatmember, and water spray and water disposal means are interposed betweenwater storage and water discharge means.
 4. The invention defined inclaim 3 wherein a foot bath tank is provided and controllable watersupply and water discharge means are provided to supply water to and todischarge water from the foot bath tank.